Archives for November 2015

It’s raining yet again down here in southeast Texas and I still don’t have an umbrella for some reason ☔️☔️ Maybe because trying to frantically open one inside my car or the doorway of a building as rain splashes down around me is like trying to solve a Chinese puzzle box. It’s more trouble than it’s worth in my world, and I’d rather be rained on for a few seconds than open an umbrella 💦😓💧

Umbrella or not, it’s really making me wish I was back in the Rio Grande Valley, where it was bright and sunny all day everyday like a tropical heaven ☀️🌴 I looooove this southernmost region of Texas almost as much as I love chocolate and puppies. I already wrote about being Vegan in the Rio Grande Valley and Exploring the Rio Grande Valley, and I have one more post in this three part series. Here are my favorite photos from my adventures to La Sal del Rey and Raymondville, Texas. [Read more…]

I think I can say it’s officially fall in Texas, which means I can use all autumn related emojis… 🍂 🍁 🍃 ☕️ 🎃🍎

While other states have already gotten snow and freezing temps, I’m down in Texas like… it’s November 😎 👙🍹

Here in the Lone Star State we like pumpkin spiced everything & cozy sweaters just like the rest of you, and the thought that maybe-just-maybe we’ll actually get to use our fireplaces at least once this year. It may have hit 80 degrees yesterday where I live, but that won’t stop me from making delicious, seasonal dishes that make me feel like we have autumn for more than two seconds in Texas.

Cue today’s post ☝️ because how fall/autumn does this dish look?! Quinoa with Sauteed Veggies and Gravy – I mean, how often do vegans get to eat gravy, am I right? I created this recipe after buying a box of Pacific Mushroom Gravy for the first time and then realized I had no idea what to use it for 💔 Then I came up with this yummy, filling (not to mention healthy) entree. It consists of fluffy quinoa with sauteed garlic, onions, squash & mushrooms, and all simmered in savory mushroom gravy 😍 👌

Beautiful bovines! Magnificent moos! Chipper chickens! Purdy piggy! They all awaited me and more at the amazing Rowdy Girl Sanctuary in Angleton, Texas. The interesting thing about this particular sanctuary is that up until recently it was a cattle ranch, and had been for many years. But Renee Sonnen couldn’t bear to watch the calves torn from their mamas and loaded up into the red trailer to be taken off to the sale barn for slaughter. After stints of being vegetarian and even having a raw diet at one point, she made the connection between these sentient animals and the food she was eating and decided that she’d had enough. She went vegan and bought the remaining cattle from her husband Tommy, and the Sonnen Ranch became Rowdy Girl Sanctuary.

Renee and Tommy (and Jolene the dachshund) were kind enough to take me on a tour of the sanctuary and introduce me to these wonderful animals and their personal stories. Along with the cattle from their ranch, they have also begun rescuing other farm animals and hope to expand the sanctuary so they can accommodate even more cute critters 🐮🐔 🐷

HEY THERE! I’M JILLIAN.

I live along the border of Mexico in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and create cruelty-free recipes that are delicious! I'm here to show you that it's easy to follow a plant based lifestyle. Not only are the health and beauty benefits noticeable, but it creates a more sustainable planet and keeps our animal friends safe & happy. I also love books, music, dark chocolate, and the great outdoors. LEARN MORE…

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